A message of Hope

                                          New Thoughts & New Wings

On the occasion of Anti Dug Day we have conducted a poster competition, Talk show & interactive session with the student in the college. It was really a great experience to understand the new thoughts & new solutions for the addiction related problems. 

Before interacting with the students I was thinking that, 'will they be open to talk? how should I break the ice?' I was thinking about stigma among the recovering addicts. To my surprise the hall was full with 300+ students, Most of them were well aware about the names & ill effects of almost all the drugs. 

What I found interested is they all were thinking about the new ways to deal with the disease of addiction. The bookish theory of acceptance says denial is the first phase of acceptance but these people were exception for that. Our discussion with them brought up new perception & ideas which somebody is rarely aware in India.

All the solutions which we come up with is naturally focusing Indian culture & present phenomena.  

However the most interesting things which came up after the talk show was as below: 

1.     There should be awareness & orientation about the disease of addiction in high schools.

2.     There should safe homes in each school, so that an addict will get the help at earliest 

3.     Each Govt officer should undergo the training which will help them to indentify an addict & provide the right help.

4.     All the industries must implement the employee assessment program (EAP).

5.     Legal information about the criminal cases, accidents etc should be assessable to employers so that the preventive measures can be provided. It should be used for relapse prevention.

6.     Every school, college, hospital, industries has to appoint the peer educator who can build up a rapport to the individual & his family who are suffering with addiction. 

7.     Driving licence should get renew after every 3 years considering the accidents under influences.

8.     Paramedical students, HR staff, Teachers, Professors, Supervisors should have 6 to 8 months internship for assessment, referral services & primary counselling. With this we can provide the treatment in abuse phase itself & can prevent the damage to happen.

9.     There should be research unit for addiction treatment & high risk among the addicts.

10. The De-addiction & rehabilitation centres should have one common protocol to follow.

Would you like to add something? I will be happy to get suggestions from you.

Sheetal  Bidkar